It isn’t uncommon for you to panic when your computer’s hard disk suddenly grinds to a halt. The cringing, whirling, creaking and clunking sounds coming from the hard drive might freak you out of composure but behold, do not let any of this push you into making any of these great mistakes that would put your precious data at risk.
Hard drive failures are usually either physical or logical. Physical hard drive failures are related to the hardware malfunction of the drive itself and have nothing to do with the data stored on the drive. Logical failures occur when you cannot boot into or access the files stored on your hard disk because of a system driver conflict, human error, malware infection or software malfunction.
Whether physical or logical, there is usually a good chance that your data is still intact, however, doing any of the following could lessen the chances of a successful recovery.
1. Persistently trying to boot into your operating system
It is a common practice of most people to try out their luck out of frustration hoping and wishing that by some magical means they could have a breakthrough. Unless you have a magic wand in hand, you would be causing more harm to the already damaged hard drive. If the failure is physical, forcing to boot the PC means you are pushing the faulty mechanical parts of the hard drive to keep working and in no time they quickly get worn out completely, hence even the most experienced recovery experts would have a hairline chance of success.
2. Engaging an uncertified /unprofessional repair technicians
Extreme circumstances they say require extreme measures, but that doesn’t include taking extreme risks. Your company has a lot of secrets that you do not wish to be in the public domain, or end up in the hands of people who could turn around to blackmail you with the information you gladly exchanged for a functional pc. Uncertified/Unprofessional computer hardware technicians come in handy, but however, not all of them took a class on information/data security and hence seldom treat your information with the confidentiality it deserves. If you have to engage an uncertified/unprofessional repairman, make sure they carry out every procedure in your presence so you can monitor them.
3. Replacing your hard drive without taking the old hard disk back
Deadly as it may seem, you may be tempted out of the joy of having your computer returned to normalcy to forget to take back the faulty hard drive that was replaced. Your hard drive may have been faulty, but it doesn’t mean it cannot be repaired. With a little patience and experience, a hardware expert can breathe a breath of life into it and get it back working. This means your most valued secrets could be out selling in the black market simply because you forgot to take back the faulty hard disk. Take it home with you and keep it as a souvenir to be assured that your data is secured
Many of us make these mistakes often and unfortunately find hackers and selfish people trading on our secrets. So when next you encounter a faulty hard drive, be sure not to make any of the above-mentioned mistakes.
